(GYM) Gators at No.6 Auburn 8pm SEC Network+

No. 3 Florida gymnastics finishes a five-meet stretch versus top-12 teams Friday at No. 6 Auburn. For the second consecutive season, the Gators finish Southeastern Conference action in the state of Alabama versus the lone league opponent in position to share the 2022 SEC regular-season title with Florida.

The Gators clinched at least a share of the 2022 SEC title with its Feb. 18 win at Kentucky. An Auburn win Friday would give the Tigers a share of their first SEC title. Entering the final Friday of SEC regular-season action, all other league teams have at least two losses. Florida seeks to become the fifth SEC regular-season champion with an undefeated record (LSU: 2017, 2018; UF: 2020, 2021).

This is the sixth year for the awarding of a regular-season SEC gymnastics title. From 1981-2016, the winner at the SEC Championship meet was considered the league champion.

How to Follow the Gators:
Florida at Auburn begins at 8 p.m. in the Auburn Arena. The meet streams on SEC Network +. Britt Bowen and Toi Garcia call the action.

Follow the action on SEC Network + or follow the scores.

In the Gators' Last Meet:
Florida built on a midpoint lead to post the nation's high total of the week to win 198.10 – 197.75 over No. 2 Oklahoma. The total is the nation's sixth highest of the season and UF now has half of the top-six team totals of 2022.

Gator senior Trinity Thomas claimed at least a share of each of the five event titles Friday for the second event sweep of her career. Her all-around total of 39.85 is the nation's 2022 leader and No. 2 all-time for the Gators. She shared the vault win at 9.925 with freshman Sloane Blakely and OU's Jordan Bowers and Danielle Sievers. Megan Skaggs shared the uneven bars with Thomas at 9.95. Thomas used a near-perfect 9.975 for the balance beam win and posted her third floor exercise 10.0 of 2022 to close the evening. She leads the nation with five 10.0s in 2022 and extended her UF career lead to 13 10.0s.

SEC Gymnast of the Week Goes to Trinity Thomas:
For her performance versus the Sooners, Thomas claimed the SEC Gymnast of the Week honor. The honor extends her league record to 16 SEC Gymnast of the Week recognitions. Thomas is the third Gator to claim SEC Gymnast of the Week honors in 2022, joining Sloane Blakely (Week 1) and Leanne Wong (Week 6).

About the Auburn Tigers:
The Tigers have ranked among the nation's top eight throughout this season. Auburn comes off posting its all-time high of 197.925 in last Friday's home win over Kentucky. Freshman Sunisa Lee is the first Olympic all-around gold medalist to compete in NCAA action. Her season-high of 39.825 set at then No. 8 LSU is the nation's No. 2 all-around total for 2022. She's scored 10.0 in both uneven bars and balance beam this season and is the reigning SEC Freshman of the Week.

Series History:
Florida leads 86-10.
Last meeting: UF was third(196.975) at 2021 SEC Championships and Auburn was fifth (196.275).

Go Gators!

 

AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 6 Auburn gymnastics team has a chance to make history once again on Friday night as the squad hosts No. 3 Florida in Auburn Arena.

With a win over the Gators, the Tigers can clinch a share of the SEC regular-season championship for the first time in program history.

"There hasn't been a bigger home meet ever than Friday," head coach Jeff Graba said. "Our athletes come to Auburn for moments like to and for a chance to win a championship. We're really excited to see what Friday brings."

Florida has already clinched the other half of the shared conference crown and a win would snap a 38-match skid to the Gators, dating back to 2004.

"Florida comes to town with a ton of experience and not that much pressure," Graba said. "It's just another meet, but it is a big opportunity to show who we are and to make a lot of history."

The meet itself is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on SEC Network+.

The Tigers are also set to recognize four seniors at the end of the meet in Jada Glenn, Derrian Gobourne, Allie Riddle and Drew Watson. In addition, the meet is the team's Alumni Meet and over 80 former Tiger gymnasts are set to attend.

AUBURN LINEUP
Depth and experience with a mix of new talent is what the Tigers will bring to the table in 2022.

Auburn will lead things off on vault where it ranks sixth nationally. Seniors Derrian Gobourneand Drew Watson lead the squad Watson is among the nation's top 15 in the event, while Gobourne is tied for 17th.

Freshmen Sophia Groth, Sara Hubbard and Sunisa Lee have all done well for the Tigers in the event this season, including a 9.925 from Lee. Sophomores Tara Walsh and Gabby McLaughlin with junior Cassie Stevens are also among the team's top eight.

Rotation two has the team on bars and will be led by experience bar workers. Lee is third nationally with a 9.935 NQS and a 10.0 under her belt. Gobourne, Aria Brusch, Sabados, Piper Smith and Stevens all add experience and big scores to the team's top eight.

Groth and sophomore Gabby McLaughlin have also worked their way into Auburn's potential lineup for bars.

Auburn's beam squad ranks fourth nationally at 49.395. Lee is tied for third in the nation at 9.940 and earned her first 10.0 last week. Groth is also in the top 10 nationally at 9.920.

Sophomore Olivia Hollingsworth with Brusch, Smith, Stevens and McLaughlin all bring big scoring potential to the lineup. Fifth year Allie Riddle is also once again among the top eight with an opportunity to compete.

Auburn's floor top eight will be highlighted by Lee, Gobourne and Watson. Hubbard and Groth are once again listed among the team's best, while Stevens, Sabados and fellow junior Morgan Leigh Oldham are also pushing for a spot in the lineup.

UP NEXT
Auburn makes a quick turnaround and heads to Huntsville for the annual Elevate the Stage meet, March 6. The Tigers will face off with Alabama, Georgia and Arkansas at 1 p.m. CT from the Von Braun Center.

 

Current Rankings: No. 3 Florida at No. 6 Auburn

Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: Despite having already clinched the regular season SEC title, Florida has yet to face the conference’s Cinderella story Auburn head-on. The Tigers will have the home arena (and crowd) advantage while the Gators are coming off an impressive win over future conference rival Oklahoma. The all-around competition is likely to be an all-out battle featuring Suni Lee, Trinity Thomas, Sophia Groth, Sloane Blakely, Cassie Stevens, Leanne Wong and Megan Skaggs. All we know for certain is that this is going to be a gritty, hard-fought meet; the team and individual wins are all up for grabs.

What We’re Watching: The final rotation: Auburn floor is always fun, but the Gymnasties add an extra dimension of entertainment value. Florida’s beam lineup has had fewer tweaks than the other events, but that could change; Riley McCusker had a phenomenal beam exhibition routine for last week and could make her collegiate debut on the event.

What Else You Should Know Before Tuning In: Auburn has broken a myriad of school records this season, notching a program-best 197.925 last week against Kentucky. It’ll be eyeing two significant records during this meet: Breaking 198 and beating Florida for the first time in program history.

 

Live Blog here

 

I'm doing both. The blogger does a great job breaking down and evaluating each gymnast's routine and comments on the scoring they receive.

 

Arkansas at No. 7 Alabama 8:00PM
SEC+

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: This will be the first of two times these teams will face each other this weekend (the second being Elevate the Stage Huntsville on Sunday). The Crimson Tide is coming in hot, having scored 197-plus in its last six meets. However, Arkansas saved its best performances for home this season, and—if the stars align—could give Alabama a run for its money.

You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: A lot of this meet is going to come down to Arkansas’ bars: When the lineup hits, it hits(see that 49.550 in week two) and when it misses, it misses (see last week’s 48.150). Either way, it’s going to be a crucial event for the Razorbacks. Conveniently, Alabama’s vault rotation is also one to watch! The Crimson Tide has proven it’s capable of putting up six 10.0 SV vaults but has yet to demonstrate the consistency to make it worth the risk. With postseason looming, Dana Duckworth is going to have to finalize her lineup sooner rather than later.

 

No. 10 Kentucky at No. 5 LSU 8:30PM
SEC+

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: This will be the teams’ first meeting since LSU controversially edged out Kentucky during last year’s regional final to qualify to the national championships. LSU has proven it’s not invulnerable to upsets, having recently been bested by Missouri. However, Kentucky will have to bring its A-game on beam if it hopes to upset the Tigers at home.

You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: Raena Worley is the current the top-ranked all-around gymnast in the country with a 39.660 NQS. Worley has been on fire this season but has yet to snag a perfect 10 on any event. However, LSU judges aren’t shy about throwing 10s, particularly on floor, where Worley has earned 9.925 or higher all but once this season.

 

No. 11 Missouri at No. 28 Georgia 6:00PM
SEC+

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: Missouri has enjoyed a history-making season so far and will be looking for a big road score to boost its NQS prospects. The Gymdogs are riding high after securing their first season win last week over Arkansas and will have the home arena advantage.

You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: Both teams’ beam lineups have garnered plenty of attention this season, though for very different reasons. However, Missouri (comparatively) struggled last week and will be looking to bounce back into the mid-49s once again. Meanwhile Georgia has hit 49.3-plus two weeks in a row; can it make it three straight?

 

No. 1 Michigan at No. 2 Oklahoma 9:00-10:30
ESPN2
Live Blog Here

Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: No. 1 at No. 2! What a regular season treat. This meet could be a preview of the fight for the national title in April. Michigan is going to be looking to bounce back from an off day at Nebraska and own a statement win. For the Sooners, the meet is an opportunity to go up against the best and prove they’re on track for nationals.

What We’re Watching: It will be interesting to see how Bev Plocki handles lineups here. She presumably won’t rest any gymnasts, but Jacey Vore may have done enough to break into the ideal postseason six on beam, meaning one of the previous six would lose a spot. Keep your eye on that lineup; it is Michigan’s weakest event and the Sooners’ best, so Oklahoma’s key to the meet lies there. This has the potential to become a 10-fest, with Allie Stern (vault), Carly Woodard (beam), Ragan Smith (beam), Abby Heiskell (vault), Natalie Wojcik (vault), Sierra Brooks (vault), Gabby Wilson (floor) and Reyna Guggino (vault) all with 10.0s so far this year—not to mention a smattering of 9.975s across both teams.

What Else You Should Know Before Tuning In: Oklahoma has only lost to Michigan in head-to-head play once, in the national final last year. The Sooners have never lost a dual to Michigan. The series history is not without drama; Olivia Karas was accused of intentionally yelling loudly while Oklahoma was on beam in Ann Arbor in 2019, and in the 2017 matchup at Michigan the Sooners won on a controversial walk-off beam 10.0 by Chayse Capps. This should be juicy.

 

No. 9 Minnesota at No. 4 Utah 9:00PM
PAC-12 Network
Live Blog Here

Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: Pac-12 powerhouse and national title contender Utah will battle Big Ten force and nationals bubble team Minnesota in a rare, late-season non-conference matchup. With the postseason looming, both teams would love a statement win.

What We’re Watching: This meet has the potential to be a 10.0-fest, with Gophers Lexy Ramler, Ona Loper and Mya Hooten joining Utes Grace McCallum, Maile O’Keefe and Cristal Isa as perfect score recipients this season. Every single event title is up for grabs with the scoring potential in this meet, joining what could be an incredibly close team race if both teams are competing to their potentials.

 

Elevate The Stage Huntsville
Sunday, March 6 2:00-4:00PM
Video $$
Live Blog Here

No. 7 Alabama, No. 6 Auburn, No. 28 Georgia and Arkansas

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: Regular season SEC quad meets are a rare gem (as are podium meets) and give fans and gymnasts alike a preview of what to expect in the coming postseason. Again mimicking the postseason, all four teams will have already competed once this weekend and may use this opportunity to test their depth, both in terms of lineups and skill difficulty.

You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: Georgia’s season has been uneven to say the least, but its vault lineup has been solid from the start: The seniors have been the stars of this lineup, with Rachel Baumann, Mikayla Magee, Megan Roberts and Abbey Ward all contributing 10.0 SV vaults. Alabama and Auburn have both been outstanding on beam this season, with multiple gymnasts—including Luisa Blanco and Suni Lee—capable of perfection. Like Georgia, Arkansas has struggled to find its rhythm, but it’s always worth watching on floor.

 

We broke our record!! National season high score! 198.575! What a great meet!